Press Release

50 Years of Music, Community, and Curiosity: Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestras Celebrate a Milestone Season 

March 26, 2026 (Elgin, Illinois) — When a small group of young musicians gathered in 1976 to form what would become the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestras, no one could have imagined the ripple effect it would have across generations of students and communities.

That first ensemble—just 55 string players performing under the name Elgin Area Youth Orchestras—gave its inaugural performance in the Elgin Community College lounge for the Elgin Symphony Women’s League. Later that year, the group presented its first public concert at Jacobs High School in Algonquin.

Nearly five decades later, the organization has grown into one of the region’s most respected youth music programs, serving more than 400 students from over 70 communities across Chicagoland.

This season, the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestras (EYSO) celebrates that journey with its 50th Anniversary Concert and Celebration on Saturday, April 18, 2026 at the McAninch Arts Center in Glen Ellyn, bringing together every ensemble in a single evening of music.

For many in the community, the anniversary is about far more than a milestone. It is a moment to reflect on how a youth orchestra became a cultural institution that has shaped thousands of young lives.

A Place Where Young Musicians Find Their Voice

From its earliest days, EYSO has been built on a simple but powerful idea: that young musicians deserve a place to explore music deeply and collaboratively.

The program quickly grew in its early years, expanding from a single ensemble into multiple orchestras serving students at different stages of musical development.

Today, what began with two ensembles has evolved into a thriving network of musical opportunities. EYSO now offers three full orchestras, two string orchestras, Brass Choir, Flute Choir, and Percussion Ensemble, along with a Chamber Music Institute, four Honors Chamber Ensembles, and Starter Strings—a program expanding access to music education for elementary students.

Each year, hundreds of young musicians rehearse, perform, and grow together in this unique musical community.

But the experience extends well beyond technique and performance.

“At EYSO, we’re not just training students artistically and technically,” said Artistic Director Matthew Sheppard, who assumed leadership of the organization in 2019. “We’re helping them develop curiosity, creativity, and the ability to think deeply about the world around them.”

For many alumni, these moments remain the most enduring.

“I’d never have the opportunities I have today were it not for my time in what’s now EYSO,” said Andy Dogan (EYSO ’93). “I think it’s so incredibly important to have artistic outlets for kids that allow them to be themselves, to be curious, and to touch on other aspects of life that intersect with music.”

A Legacy of Visionary Leadership

The organization’s growth has been shaped by generations of educators and conductors who believe in the transformative power of music.

Founder Robert Hanson established the program in 1976, laying out the foundation for a youth orchestra built on collaboration and opportunity.

In 1998, the arrival of Artistic Director Randal Swiggum ushered in a new era of artistic and educational innovation. Swiggum introduced the philosophy of Comprehensive Musicianship through Performance (CMP)—an approach encouraging students to explore music through inquiry, analysis, and connection.

Rather than simply preparing concerts, rehearsals became spaces where students examined musical ideas, asked questions, and discovered meaning in the works they performed.

This philosophy, often described as learning through “expert noticing,” remains a defining characteristic of the EYSO experience.

Music As Community 

Over the past five decades, EYSO has grown into far more than an orchestra program—it has become a vital community hub where young artists and families come together in pursuit of something shared and meaningful.

Each week, students travel from across northern Illinois—often from dozens of different towns—to rehearse side-by-side. What begins as a musical commitment quickly becomes something deeper. Students spend years within the program, moving through ensembles as they grow, developing not only their artistry but a sense of identity and belonging within a larger community.

Rehearsal rooms become spaces of connection. Carpools turn into friendships. Sectionals become places where students learn to listen, lead, and trust one another. Over time, these shared experiences form lasting bonds—musical partnerships and friendships that extend well beyond graduation and into adulthood.

That sense of connection is something alumni carry with them long after they leave the program.

“My time in EYSO showed me how important it is to get to know all your colleagues on a personal level,” said alumna Sonia Mantell (EYSO ’04–’06), now Acting Co-Associate Principal Cello of the Minnesota Orchestra. “It makes the whole orchestral experience that much more fulfilling and special.”

At the same time, EYSO’s reach extends outward, connecting students to the broader cultural life of the region. The organization has cultivated long-standing partnerships with leading artists and institutions, creating opportunities for young musicians to engage directly with the professional world.

Over the years, EYSO students have collaborated with internationally acclaimed artists including Yo-Yo Ma, Midori, Rachel Barton Pine, Alisa Weilerstein, Jaime Laredo, Joyce Yang, Inon Barnaton, and Philippe Quint—experiences that bring global artistry into a local context.

They have also performed alongside ensembles such as the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, Silk Road Ensemble, Eighth Blackbird, Elgin Master Chorale, and Salt Creek Ballet, contributing to performances that enrich the cultural fabric of the community while placing students in dynamic, interdisciplinary artistic environments.

For students, these moments are transformative. They offer a glimpse into the possibilities of a life in the arts, while reinforcing the idea that their voices—and their contributions—matter within a larger artistic conversation.

Alumnus David Sands (EYSO ’05–’10) recalls the residency with internationally renowned violinist Midori:

“The residency with Midori was an incredible and inspiring experience,” he said. “What stood out most was her commitment to engaging with each orchestra, making the experience feel deeply personal for every student involved.”

These moments—whether sharing the stage with world-class artists, performing landmark repertoire, or forming lifelong friendships—are what define the EYSO experience.

For the region, the impact is equally profound. EYSO does not simply train young musicians; it actively strengthens the cultural ecosystem, creating a space where emerging artists and established professionals intersect, collaborate, and inspire one another.

Voices of EYSO

“My time in EYSO showed me how important it is to get to know all your colleagues on a personal level. It makes the whole orchestral experience that much more fulfilling and special.”
— Sonia Mantell (EYSO ’04–’06), Acting Co-Associate Principal Cello, Minnesota Orchestra

“I’d never have the opportunities I have today were it not for my time in what’s now EYSO.”
— Andy Dogan (EYSO ’93)

“What stood out most was how personal the experience felt—Midori made every student feel seen.”
— David Sands (EYSO ’05–’10)

Expanding Opportunity Through Music

In recent years, EYSO has deepened its commitment to ensuring that access to music education extends to students who have historically been left out of traditional pathways.

That work took shape in 2021 with the launch of Starter Strings, a program developed in partnership with U-46 music educators in response to a pressing question: how can more students—especially those from low-income and immigrant communities—be given the opportunity to begin their musical journey?

What began as a conversation about declining school music participation quickly grew into a hands-on solution.

Each week, Starter Strings students receive group instruction in violin or viola led by EYSO teaching artists, while also attending EYSO concerts and connecting with mentors from the organization’s flagship ensembles. For many students, it is their first experience holding an instrument—and their first introduction to a larger musical community.

“EYSO’s Starter Strings program is simple in concept,” said Director Tracy Dullea. “How can we reach the many excited, talented, deserving students that we aren’t already reaching?”

The impact has been both immediate and lasting. Beyond developing musical skills, the program fosters confidence, curiosity, and a sense of belonging—qualities that extend far beyond the classroom.

In recognition of this work, EYSO received the 2025 Community Relations of the Year Award from the Illinois Council of Orchestras.

Programs like Starter Strings reflect EYSO’s broader vision: not only to train young musicians, but to build a community where music is accessible, meaningful, and shared by all.

A Nationally Recognized Program

EYSO’s distinctive approach to music education—one that prioritizes curiosity, collaboration, and deep musical understanding—has earned recognition far beyond the Chicagoland region.

Over the years, the organization has received multiple honors from the Illinois Council of Orchestras, including repeated recognition as Youth Orchestra of the Year and Programming of the Year—awards that reflect not only artistic excellence, but a commitment to innovative, student-centered learning.

EYSO students have taken the stage at some of the country’s most respected venues and platforms. They have performed at the Ravinia Festival, one of the nation’s premier outdoor music festivals, appeared on NPR’s From the Top, and toured both nationally and internationally—experiences that place young musicians in professional-level artistic environments while expanding their understanding of music’s role in the world.

But EYSO’s national impact is perhaps most clearly seen in moments of challenge.

In 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic forced performing arts organizations across the country to pause, EYSO found a way forward. Rather than suspending its work, the organization quickly reimagined what music-making could look like under unprecedented circumstances. Through virtual concerts, innovative rehearsal models, and carefully designed in-person protocols, EYSO became a national example of how youth music programs could continue to serve students safely and meaningfully.

For students, that continuity mattered. It provided not only musical growth, but stability, connection, and a sense of purpose during an uncertain time.

Taken together, these achievements reflect more than accolades or milestones. They point to something deeper: an organization that continues to evolve, adapt, and lead—while remaining grounded in its mission to transform young lives through music.

Looking Forward to the Next 50 Years

Even as EYSO celebrates its history, the organization is already shaping its next chapter—one that extends its impact far beyond the concert hall and into the global community.

In June 2027, Youth Symphony students will embark on an international tour to Argentina and Paraguay, where they will perform in renowned venues, collaborate with local musicians, and experience the rich cultural traditions, histories, and landscapes of both countries. From the vibrant musical life of Buenos Aires to the natural and cultural significance of Iguaçu Falls and the artistic traditions of Asunción, the tour is designed as both a performance opportunity and an immersive cultural exchange.

While EYSO has previously toured to Scotland, Gettysburg, and Boston and New York, the 2027 tour represents a renewed and intentional commitment to making global engagement a defining part of the EYSO experience.

At its core, the initiative reflects the organization’s broader mission: to prepare students not only as musicians, but as thoughtful, curious, and connected global citizens—individuals who understand music as a powerful bridge between cultures, communities, and ways of thinking.

Celebrating a Shared Legacy

The 50th Anniversary Celebration on April 18 will bring together students, alumni, families, educators, and supporters for a night that reflects the breadth of EYSO’s impact.

The evening begins with a 5:00 PM cocktail reception, followed by a 7:00 PM anniversary concert featuring performances by every EYSO ensemble.

For many alumni, the event will feel like a homecoming.

For current students, it represents something equally powerful: becoming part of a story that began half a century ago—and continues to grow.

For fifty years, EYSO has nurtured young musicians, strengthened communities, and proven that when young people gather to make music together, the results resonate far beyond the concert hall.

And as the orchestra enters its next half-century, that resonance shows no sign of fading.